Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-02-23
ELEPHANT HUNTING.
How These Huge Animals are Captured 10
the Wilds of Ceylon.

How These Huge Animals are Captured i3
the Wilds of Ceylon.
There are several methods of hunts
ing elephants in India, all of which are.
attended with more or less pomp and
display. Kings and Princes taking part
in the sport. In some places they are
pursued with tame elephants, trained
for the purpose, and very swift. When
these have come up with one, the huns
ter throws, with much dexterity, a.
moose of very stout cord, in such way
that the wild animal finds himselF
caught by the foot. He falls, and they
strap him down before he has time on
opportunity for rising. They then fas-
ten him between two strong tame ele-
plants, who beat him with their truaks
if he is at all refractory, and compel
him to walk with them to the stables
In Ceylon, an elephant hunt is very
important affair. The Government as
sembles great number of Europeans
and Cingalese, who meet in the forest
where these animals are to be found.
All these hunters form a vast circle,
which they gradually narrow, advanc~
ing and shouting.
The frightened elephants have but
one side to fly, and there is found the
"redan," into which they are forced to
enter This redan is nothing less than
a great circle of stakes, terminating in
a sort OF narrow neck, once entered in
to which the elephants can no longer
return. In order to force them to enter
shouts are increased and burning torch
es are thrown before their eyes; then
their fears are redoubled and they rush
into the trap, which incloses them.
The first care after the capture is to
tame them. This is managed by plac-
ing one or two tame elephants near the
opening, by which the wild ones are
made to pass out, tied together, as we
have already said. Hunger on one side
and blows from their docile companions
on the other soon inspire them with
resignation.
They are also taken by pitfalls. A
path is chosen which is used many times
in the year by the elephants, and which
probably serves as a route in going
from the jungles to some spring in the
mountains. Across these paths several
pits are dug of about twenty feet wide.
and fifteen to twenty feet deep, which
are then covered over with branches
and turf. However admirably these
pits may be concealed, it does not often
happen that the elephants fall therein.
Not only do they try with their feet
with the greatest care any ground that
looks suspicious, but they make con-
stant use of their trunks to prove the
solidity of the soil, or to clear out of
the way every thing which appears to
hide a trap. 1t is not an easy matter
to draw an elephant out of one of these
pits, and it can only be done by the aid
of a tame elephant; otherwise it would
be necessary to subdue the animal by
hunger before thinking of getting him
out. Any one getting within reach of
the trunk of an elephant just taken
would do so at the risk of his life; but,
singularly enough, a driver mounted on
a tame elephants neck can approach
the novice with impunity, and tighten
or slacken the moose round his neck or
feet.
The cords placed round the legs
sometimes cut them to the bone, and
leave marks which endure the animals
lifetime. No nourishment is given
him for several days. The deprivation
of food soon brings down his courage,
and then it is that his appointed driver
insures the friendly recognition of the
elephant by bringing him food and un-
binding his limbs. -Harper's Weekly.